Improvement in methods of tubing and casing oil-wells



p. L. LEWIS & W. soYNwoNq METHODOF TUBING AND CASING OILWELLS. N 188,8o6Patented March 27,1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANIEL L. LEWIS, OF LOVELLS STATION, ANDWILLIAM BOYNTON, OF PETERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS OF TUBlNG AND CASlNG.Oll.-WEI..LS.-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,806, dated March27, 1877; application filed February 22, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DANIEL L. LEWIS, ofLovells Station, Erie county, Pennsylvania, and WILLIAM BOYNTON, ofPetersburg, in the county of Clarion and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Method of Tubing and CasingOil-Wells; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to the construction, arrangement, and operation ofoil or other deep well casings and tubing; and consists in providingvarious improved devices connected with said casing and tubing, and inthe arrangement of the said tubing and easiugs, and in the operation ofthe whole when in its place. The objects we attain are perfection ofoperation, durability of parts, and increase of production of the well.

Our device is shown in the accompanying drawing, as follows:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of an oil-well, and all itscasings and tubing. Figs. 2 and 3 are views of detached devices.

In order that others skilled in the art to which this relates may beableto construct our invention, we give the following generaldescription of it:

A represents the fresh-water casing, and rests on the ledge a. Brepresents a secondary casing, which extends to the bottom of the well.This casing is provided, at the proper point, with a device for packingthe well below the salt-water vein, and near the bottom of the well itis perforated, for the escape of gas through it to the top of the well.0 is the tubing in which the pump and its rod works, and through whichthe oil passes to the top. A is the casing-head, and D is thecasing-cap. E is an elastic packing within the cap I). F is a diskfitting in the top of the casing-head, and is provided with an openingfor easing B, which opening has conical facesff, for preventing thejoints of the casing B, as it enters the well or is removed from thewell, catching. This cap or disk F, or one of proper size made like it,we place at the mouth of all the pipes, tubes, or casings, into whichany other pipe, tube, casing, or sucker-rod enters, for the samepurpose. B is the head of easing B. This is provided with an externalthread, on which operates a nut, B". This nut rests on the top of cap D,and is used to partially sustain casing B, and to raise it slightly, ifdesired. The object of this will hereafter more fully appear. 0' is astuffing-box, for making a close joint between the tubing 0 and the headB of easing B, to prevent the escape of gas (or steam, when a well isbeing steamed) at that point. G is a flange on the casing B. J is aflange on a short piece of easing, I, which is attached to casing B forthe purpose of forming a slipjoint, K. Between these flanges is apacking ring, H. The object of the slip-joint is to al' low the flangesto press together and expand the packing-ring to the rock. This deviceis placed at a proper point for shutting ofl the salt-water. The flangeG is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 2 a top view is given, and in Fig. 3 a side elevation is given.It will then be seen that this flange is provided with burr'grooves, theobject and purpose of which is that it can be worked up through anaccumulation of sand or S6illll18lli3-Wll6ll it is desirable to drawcasing B, or when it is desirable to loosen the packing H and allow thewater above to go down. This latternamed object is also one of theobjects of the slipjoint, and also of the external thread and nut B. Byturning the nut B" the casing can be slightly raisedthat is, raised afew inches. This loosens the packing. If an accumulation of sand orsediment is around the burr-flange G too thick to give way easily, theupper portion of the casing B can be turned, and the burr will grind thesand out. Suppose it becomes necessary to draw the casing B, the packingH would be loosened, and the water above would pass down to the bottomof the well and be pumped up before the tubing (J is drawn; then thetubing 0 would be drawn, and then the casing B. Where this operationcannot be done, as is the casein all wells as now cased and tubed, thesalt-water .joint.

more strictly speaking, on the character of goes to the bottom of thewell when the tubing is drawn, and remains there, which is injurious tothe productiveness of the well.

By our device, also, the lower part of the well can be flooded at anytime desired by loosening the packing H. By flooding we mean that thewater can be let into the bottomof the well and be pumped out with theoil for a time, for the purpose of washing out parafline or gummyaccumulations.

There is still another purpose served by the nut B. Not only casing B,but the tubing, should rest on the bottom ot the well. But when this isdone its great length causes it to bend or how toward one side of thewell. By this nut and thread B, or one similar or similarly placed onthe end of any pipe serving as a tubing or a casing, it can be drawntaut, and still be left resting on the bottom of the well.- This is ofespecial benefit in the case of tubing, for in it the force of pumpingis exerted, and when this is held in suspension, as is now thecase inall wells, the downward stroke of the pump often causes some part of thetubing to give way.

The flexible packing E serves to assist in adjusting the tubing by thenut B, for when the operator tightens the nut B" so he feels.

the whole weight of the tubing, (or casing, as the case may b e,) heturns back until he finds the Weight partially removed. He then knowsthe tubing is on the bottom, and the weighthe feels is the tension ofpacking E, and at that point he leaves.the nut. Of course, when a casinglike B, with a slip-joint, is used, the above remarks concerning thepacking E do not apply. But our nut B and external thread and cap D,andpacking E, are internied for use on all tubings or casings, for someWells do not useor need a casing with a slip- That depends on the depthof well, or,

the water-veins encountered as regards amount of water; but thisadjusting device, when used on the casing B, is intended simply ofadjusting the pipe and the packing above the slipjoint, and exact nicetyis not so essential as in the case of tubing. Here it is important thatthe tubing shall rest upon the bottom just enough to sustain theweightof the pipe and the force of the pumping operation, but no more, for itwould then bend or how, which would cause friction of the sucker rod,and it would also be impossible to pack it perfectly at the top. Inother words, the pipe must rest on the bottom and yet be perfectly taut.

The device consisting of the nut B and an elastic packing, E, somewherebelow it permits us to perfectly adjust the tubing, so the aboverequisites are complied with exactly.

What we' claim is as follows:

1. The arrangement within an oil-well of a casing, B, extending to thebottom, with a slip-joint, K, and packing H, and with perforations nearthe bottom for the escape of gas, substantially as and for the purposesmentioned.

2. The arrangement within an oil-well of the casings A and B and tubing0, when the said casing B extends to and rests upon the bottom of thewell, and is provided with a slipjoint, K, and packing H, andperforations i near the bottom for the escape of gas within said casing,substantially as shown, and for the purposes mentioned.

3. In combination with the slip-joint K on 5. The head B of a casing ortubing, when provided with an external thread and nut, B, substantiallyas shown,'and for the purpose of adjusting said tubing or casing withinthe well and upon the bottom, as set forth.

6. The head B of a casing or tubing, hav-- ing an external thread andnut, B", in combination with an elastic packing, E, substantially asshown, and for the purposes men-' tioned.

.7. An oil-well casing or tubing, in combi= nation with a device at itsupper end for holding it taut, whereby the said tubing or casing isenabled torest upon the bottom'of the well, for the purpose ofsustaining the weight of the same, and also the force of pumping whichmay be exerted within the same, sub-' stantially as set forth. V

8. In combination with the casing B and packing H, the flange G, whenprovided with burr-grooves, as shown, and for the purposes set forth.

9. A tubing or casing head, when provided with a disk, F, with conicalor flaring faces f f, substantially as shown, and for the purposesmcntioned.

In testimony whereof we, the said DANIEL L. Lnwrs and WILLIAM BOYNTON,have hereunto set our hands.

DANIEL L. LEWIS. WILLIAM BOYNTON.

Witnesses:

' JNo. K. HALLOGK,

Geo. A. STURGEON.

